About the Online Digital Storytelling and Content Creation Certificate
The Certificate in Digital Storytelling and Content Creation equips students with the skills needed to create compelling short- and long-form digital content, build audience engagement, and communicate confidently across today’s rapidly changing online platforms. Blending user-generated content (UGC), storytelling, social media strategy, and editing, the program teaches students how to craft and communicate narratives that influence audiences, inspire action, and communicate complex ideas with clarity. Students learn strategies for ethical engagement with virtual communities. They also practice combining multimodal media—including text, visuals, sound, and gesture—to communicate powerful messages and influence their audiences. Through hands-on projects, students gain fluency in digital platforms, create cross‑platform content, and practice professional editing techniques suited for modern digital environments. By the end of the program, students assemble a multi‑platform portfolio showcasing stories, social media content, and editorial work—preparing them for careers in content creation, social media, communications, branding, and digital strategy.
Digital Storytelling and Content Creation Certificate Requirements
- The Certificate in Digital Storytelling and Content Creation is a 4-course, 4 c.u.* credit program of study taught by University of Pennsylvania faculty.
- To earn a certificate, students complete the four courses offered, in any order.
Flexible Course Schedule and Tuition
Penn LPS Online courses in the Certificate in Digital Storytelling and Content Creation are offered in accelerated 8-week terms and full terms. Courses in the online certificate program are largely asynchronous with some optional synchronous sessions to be scheduled by the instructors. All Penn LPS Online courses are taught at the undergraduate level by Penn instructors.
You have the option to enroll in individual courses without committing to the entire online certificate, enjoying the flexibility and expertise offered by Penn LPS Online to suit your schedule and interests. Visit the Cost of Attendance page for course tuition and fee rates.
The Certificate in Digital Storytelling and Content Creation prepares you to:
- Create compelling stories for brands, organizations, campaigns, and communities, and develop effective calls-to-action (CTAs)
- Produce, edit, and manage content across multiple digital platforms
- Support communication workflows within marketing, communications, and creative teams
- Build and evaluate content strategies that drive engagement and audience growth
- Present employers or clients with a robust portfolio of social media content, narratives, and polished writing
- Manage partnerships by building ongoing, mutually beneficial collaborations
Online Digital Storytelling and Content Creation Courses
Certificate students who complete the four online courses listed below earn a Certificate in Digital Storytelling and Content Creation.
- DIGC 1200: Digital Literacy and Cultural Change
- PROW 3010: The Power of Storytelling
- CRWR 2400: The Art of Editing (This course is currently under redevelopment. Please consult with your advisor to discuss alternatives.)
- PROW 4000: Writing for Social Media
Courses are subject to change.
Meet the Faculty
- Faculty Director, Penn LPS Online Certificate in Creative Writing
- Director, Creative Writing Program
- Director of Curriculum Design, Arts and Sciences Online Learning, University of Pennsylvania
Careers Related to Digital Storytelling and Content Creation
The Certificate in Digital Storytelling and Content Creation is designed to provide students experience in cross‑platform content creation, social media strategy, and professional editing techniques. By completing the certificate, students build a polished project-based portfolio that can be applied to professional roles, including:
- Content development
- Communications
- Social media strategy
- Digital storytelling
- Copywriting and editing
- Brand narrative work
*Academic credit is defined by the University of Pennsylvania as a course unit (c.u.). A course unit (c.u.) is a general measure of academic work over a period of time, typically a term (semester or summer). A c.u. (or a fraction of a c.u.) represents different types of academic work across different types of academic programs and is the basic unit of progress toward a degree. One c.u. is usually converted to a four-semester-hour course.
